The AFL-CIO
Committee on Political Education announced today that it will issue no
formal endorsement of a candidate for Chair of the Democratic National
Committee (DNC), choosing instead to issue a statement of principles it
would urge any elected DNC Chair to adopt.

Gerald McEntee,
president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal
Employees (AFSCME), who chaired the meeting, said of the decision, “The
most important thing for Democrats to do is to work together to
challenge this administration on behalf of all Americans on such issues
as Social Security, health care and education.

“All the
candidates for DNC chair are more than qualified to lead the party and
to reach out to all Americans about the issues that unite us."

In lieu of a formal endorsement from the Committee, endorsement
decisions will be left to the individual unions.

The
committee, which consists of 23 members of the AFL-CIO Executive
Council, met this morning. The group did issue endorsements of AFL-CIO
Executive Vice President Linda Chavez-Thompson and Rep. Mike Honda
(D-CA) for DNC Vice-Chair positions.

In its statement, the
AFL-CIO urged the DNC to support the concerns of working Americans
“forcefully and consistently,” noting that:

* Issues of
economic security and justice – health care, secure retirements, secure
jobs and decent wages -- are of preeminent concern to working families,
who simply want the opportunity to work hard and provide for ourselves
and our families. The DNC should convey a viable plan to create and
sustain real jobs that provide good wages and access to quality
healthcare.

* Education and mobilization of activists across
the country must happen at the grassroots level, where voters live and
work. The DNC must rebuild its infrastructure at the base,
strengthening state parties and engaging new voters while actively
ensuring diversity at all levels. The DNC should work together with
allied organizations striving to increase grassroots participation
around a working families’ agenda.

* The freedom of workers to
join together into unions for collective bargaining is a fundamental
human and civil right, and a cornerstone of economic security for
working Americans. The DNC must demonstrate its commitment to restoring
and protecting workers’ freedom to organize by publicly stating its
strong support for the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) and committing
its leadership to endorse EFCA in Congress.